Two days after winning in Spain, Williams is scrambling to put together the equipment it needs to contest next weekend's Monaco grand prix. Mere hours after Pastor Maldonado secured the once-great British team's first victory since 2004, a huge fire broke out in the pits, leaving one team member still in a Barcelona hospital with burns. "His family are in constant communication and he is in good spirits," Williams said in a media statement. The Oxfordshire based team is now making efforts to ensure it […]

McLaren has made changes to its pitcrew and processes, following recurring problems at recent grands prix. Team boss Martin Whitmarsh launched a full internal investigation after Bahrain, where problems with the fitting of wheels during crucial stops resurfaced. "We have to try and make sure we pick up on them (the problems) for the next race because we can't afford to lose points like we did," said Lewis Hamilton. One wheel-gun operator got the lion's share of the blame, but Whitmarsh insisted that McLaren would […]

Emerson Fittipaldi, the successful Brazilian driver of the 70s, has tipped Jenson Button as a strong contender to match his own tally of two world championships come the end of the 2012 season. "From what I can see, it will be between Jenson Button and Nico Rosberg. They are the big favourites," the 65-year-old is quoted by Brazil's Globo. "Obviously, if Ferrari improves, then Fernando (Alonso) is spectacular. Lewis Hamilton is very aggressive, very fast, but I think Jenson is very clean, easier on his […]

Driver: Pastor Maldonado / Bruno Senna Chassis / engine: FW34-02 / RS27-5341/1 Location: Circuit de Catalunya, Barcelona 4.655km Objectives: Pitstop practice Weather: Dry and sunny all day Ambient & track temps: 23ºC / 31ºC Mark Gillan, Chief Operations Engineer: Today the team concentrated on practicing our pit stops, completing 68 mostly in- and out-laps to get the drivers and pit crew used to the new equipment and procedures. Pastor's morning session was compromised with an engine-related problem which, although easy to rectify, took some time […]

HRT's tumultuous history could be set to continue, if a report in an authoritative German newspaper is right. Die Welt claims Thesan Capital, the Madrid-based investment company that bought the Spanish team from Jose Ramon Carabante last year, is already on the lookout for a new buyer. Originally known as Hispania, HRT was actually founded as Campos by former Spanish F1 driver Adrian Campos when the FIA opened up the grid ahead of the 2010 season. Die Welt claims that the latest owner Thesan's desire […]

Circuito de Jerez, Jerez de la Frontera Wednesday the 8th of February 2012 Weather: Sunny - air 12°C, track 18°C Circuit length: 4.423 kmP Pedro de la Rosa  F111-002 #23 12th 1’22.128 Second day of pre-season testing in Jerez HRT Formula 1 Team continued today in Jerez with its programme in the second and final day of testing that the team had scheduled for these first official pre-season tests. Pedro de la Rosa was in the cockpit of the F111 and completed a total of […]

Circuito de Jerez, Jerez de la Frontera Tuesday the 7th of February 2012 Weather: Sunny – air 19°C, track 27°C Circuit length: 4.423 km Pedro de la Rosa  F111-002 #23 12th 1’23.676 First day of pre-season testing in Jerez The Winter break has been a short one and, after only two months, a renewed HRT F1 Team returned to action today for the first Formula 1 pre-season tests being held at the Circuito de Jerez, with Pedro de la Rosa as the only driver at […]

The scene of November's inaugural Formula 1 race in Austin, Texas, should be ready for the US Grand Prix well ahead of time, according to media reports. The Italiaracing website claims that, in the wake of recent speculation the event might collapse altogether, the Circuit of the Americas is now on track to be completed by August. "The workers are working six days a week to complete the paddock buildings and grandstands," read the report. The Austin American Statesman newspaper says the actual track surface […]

Returning German driver Nico Hulkenberg will enjoy equal status with his teammate Paul di Resta this year, Force India has announced. Hulkenberg, 24, is returning to the grid in 2012 after a season on the Silverstone based team's reserve bench, following his ousting by Williams a year ago. His teammate is Scot di Resta, who made his F1 debut last year alongside the departing German veteran Adrian Sutil. The pair both have 19 career grands prix under their belts, with di Resta scoring a few […]

Nico Rosberg is confident Mercedes is the key to ending his losing streak in Formula 1. The highly rated 26-year-old, with six full seasons under his belt, now has the unenviable tally of more than a century of consecutive grands prix without a single win. "If you're at the wrong place at the wrong time, you can't do anything about it," the German told Bild newspaper. Rosberg spent his first four seasons with Williams but, now at Mercedes into the foreseeable future, he is confident […]

Comments made by Team Lotus/Caterham chief Tony Fernandes seem to contradict reports Jarno Trulli may be unceremoniously ousted after Sunday's season finale. It has been rumoured that, despite inking a new deal with the Italian veteran recently, Fernandes may be in talks with Red Bull about sidelining Trulli to make room for either Daniel Ricciardo or Jean-Eric Vergne. But in La Gazzetta dello Sport's Sportweek magazine, the Malaysian businessman suggested that Trulli is definitely a part of Caterham's plans for 2012. The comments are also […]

Felipe Massa has admitted 2012 will be "crucial" if he wants to retain a top seat in formula one. Ferrari will honour the Brazilian's contract for next season, but Massa has struggled since his near-fatal crash in 2009 - and the birth of his son Felipinho - to keep up with Fernando Alonso. In Korea, he was told by a reporter for the O Estado de S.Paulo newspaper that 2012 will be crucial. "I think so too; to do a good year will be very […]